Development & Test Engineering Manager (Onsite)

ISU Research Park; West Des Moines (IA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

ISU Research Park in West Des Moines, IA is seeking a Development & Test Engineering Manager to lead prototype development, testing, and validation for Collins Engine Nozzles products. You’ll partner with Engineering and cross-functional teams to align schedules, communicate progress and risks, and ensure programs stay on track.

This is a hands-on, technically focused role where you translate designs into functional prototypes, drive test readiness, troubleshoot challenges, and coordinate

Qualifications

• Requires STEM degree with extensive experience in development and testing.
• Strong communication with customers, teams, and management.
• Proven leadership of cross-functional engineering and testing activities.
• Experience guiding programs from concept to validation.

Responsibilities

• Align prototype and test schedules with project plans and leadership.
• Communicate progress, risks, and resources to stakeholders.
• Coordinate performance development activities for sustaining and NPI programs.
• Translate CAD concepts into functional prototypes and provide manufacturability input.
• Ensure test readiness plans and validation activities meet requirements.
• Promote robust test methods, instrumentation, and data-driven decisions.
• Provide technical leadership in test stand troubleshooting and coordination with suppliers.

Skills

Excellent communication

Cross-functional leadership

Problem solving

Leadership

Data-driven decisions

Education

Bachelor's in STEM

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

CAD software

Test equipment

Job description

Development & Test Engineering Manager (Onsite)

We are looking for a Development & Test Engineering Manager to lead the coordination of prototype development, testing, and performance validation for Collins Engine Nozzles (CEN) products. You’ll partner with Engineering and cross-functional teams to align schedules, communicate progress and risks, and ensure programs stay on track.

This is a hands-on, technically focused role where you’ll help translate designs into functional prototypes, drive test readiness, troubleshoot challenges, and coordinate resources across suppliers, maintenance, and facilities. You’ll also help improve processes, tools, and testing methods to reduce lead times and increase development efficiency.

We’re looking for someone who enjoys bringing teams together, solving technical problems, and driving hardware programs from concept through testing and validation.

What You Will Do

• Partner with Program Managers to align prototype and test schedules with overall project plans.
• Communicate progress, risks, and resource needs to leadership and stakeholders.
• Coordinate all performance development activities for both sustaining and NPI programs in alignment with customer requirements
• Translate engineering concepts and CAD models into functional prototypes, providing feedback on producibility and manufacturability as needed.
• Ensure test readiness plans, validation activities, and verification activities meet regulatory, customer, and internal requirements across all programs.
• Promote robust test methods, instrumentation, automation, and data-driven decision-making.
• Provide technical leadership in troubleshooting test stand equipment and coordinate with suppliers, maintenance, and facilities to ensure readiness.
• Guide the development of design definitions, standards, and methodologies for CEN hardware.
• Evaluate emerging technologies, tools, and methods to enhance prototyping, testing, and validation capabilities.
• Drive capital and process improvements that reduce lead times, increase accuracy, and improve development throughput.

Qualifications You Must Have

• Typically requires a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) unless prohibited by local laws/regulations and minimum 10 years prior relevant experience or an Advanced Degree in a related field and minimum 7 years of experience or in absence of a degree, 14 years of relevant experience
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to effectively engage customers, technical teams, and all levels of management.
• Recognized technical expertise, with a proven track record of influencing product strategy and technology direction.
• Demonstrated experience managing cross-functional engineering, prototyping, and test activities, coordinating teams, resources, schedules, and priorities to support successful program execution.

Qualifications We Prefer

• Advanced degree(s) in Business Management, Engineering, or another related technical field.
• Demonstrated experience leading projects, cross-functional teams, or customer-facing technical engagements.
• Experience with fuel nozzle design, development, and testing, or related aerospace propulsion systems.
• Strong problem-solving, collaboration, decision-making, and leadership skills, with the ability to drive results in a complex engineering environment.
• Experience leading multi-year technology roadmaps and making strategic investment decisions.
• Proven ability to operate effectively in ambiguous environments and drive solutions to complex, multidisciplinary problems.